The 17th Zilan Women's Festival, the biggest gathering of Kurdish women in Germany, kicked off in the German city of Gelsenkirchen on Saturday under the motto "Jin Jiyan Azadî Ji Kurdistanê bi Cîhane ve" (Woman, Life, Freedom from Kurdistan to the World”.

Organized by the Kurdish Women’s Union in Germany (YJİ-E), the festival this year is dedicated to KCK Executive Council member Evîn Goyî (Emine Kara) who was murdered, along with Mir Perwer and Abdurrahman Kızıl, in Paris on December 23, 2022.

The festival began with a panel on women’s revolution and the achievements of Kurdish women. The panel moderated by journalist Zeynep Güneri hosted Jineology Academy member Elif Kaya, KEJAR (Union of Free Women from Rojhilat) member Meryem Fethi, TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe) member Zilan Diyar as speakers.

Jineology Academy member Elif Kaya spoke about the latest developments regarding the women’s revolution in Bakur (North Kurdistan), where, she said, the foundations of the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” revolution were laid and women have come to these days thanks to their struggle based on the philosophy of Abdullah Öcalan.

“Without women, there can be no revolution,” said Kaya and pointed out Kurdish women’s struggle against both the state and male domination.

Kaya talked about the background of the struggle for the co-presidency system in the Kurdish movement, which, she said, was put into practice thanks to a long-term struggle. She also made mention of women’s libertarian practices in political and social life, defining those steps as a part of women’s revolution.

Pointing out the Turkish regime’s never-ending attacks on women and their achievements, Kaya called on women to ensure further organization against the threats they face and not to leave themselves defenceless.

Speaking after, KEJAR member Meryem Fethi spoke about the women-led uprising in Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) and Iran, stating: “Women have been fighting against the Iranian regime for months at heavy costs. We should all support the women in Rojhilat and Iran, where women are raped, tortured and imprisoned but still would never take a step back.”

TJK-E activist Zilan Diyar remarked that the Kurdish women’s achievements today were a result of 40 years of struggle. “We continue our struggle on the basis of women’s freedom ideology. Thousands of revolutionary women have sacrificed their lives to lead their struggle to this phase. Women are subjects in politics today. They defend themselves in four parts of Kurdistan. Women all around the world want to benefit from the experiences of Kurdish women today. Before everyone else, mothers confront tanks in attacks against Maxmur and Shengal. ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ is not a slogan, but a revolution achieved by women with their labour. On our part, we should ensure a stronger organization to protect these achievements.”